Metal trim stick



Aug. 20, 1929. J, L MaclNERNEY ummm. TRIM s'rrcx Filed Aug. l2, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 20, 1 929. J. L MaclNERNEY 1,724,946

METAL TRIM STICK Filed Aug. 12, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 L707/263 fil/CW ile/v All@ 20, l929- J. L.. MaclNERNEY 1,724,946

METAL TRIM STI CK Filed Aug. 12. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Aug. 20, 1929.

UNITED STATES JAMES L. MACINEBNEY, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

METAL TRIM STICK.

Application tiled August 12,1926. Serial No. 128,777.

This invention relates to metal trim sticks for various uses, but more particularly to trim sticks by which is held the welted edge or margin of fabric coverings for bodies, doors and spring cushions-of vehicles.

One object of the invention is to produce a trim strip adapted to a variety of uses, Iwhich will permit of the welted or thickened edge or portion of the fabric or material used, being inserted in the interior of the strip, and which strip may then be manipu lated in a very simple manner to lock the inserted ortion and prevent the withdrawal of the fa ric.

Another object of the invention is to r0- duce a trim strip wherein the trimming abric will be held in the stri by an anchor or lock rather than by an e ge or a part of the strip contacting with, pinching or pressing upon the fabric.

Another object of the invention is to roduce such a fabric holding trim stick w 'ch will be adapted for use on straight, flat surfaces, upon surfaces at right angles to each other and upon concaved or convexly rounded corner surfaces.

Another object is to produce a trim stick which is cheap to manufacture and capable of bein put into use by unskilled labor.

Another object is to producea trim stick which may be removably attached to a fixed support by a screw or other fastening device, but, when the support is of metal, such as an automobile body, may be attached thereto by stop weldi thus becoming, in eiect, a part of the y.

To the accomplishment of these-and other objects, which will be manifest as I proceed with this specification, my invention consists of a strip of metal shaped to form a plurality of walls and a hollow interior, one of the walls including two flanges spaced a art initially at their proximate, longitudinal, marginal edges, a predetermined distance, to

receive the material therebetween, one or both .of which flanges may be moved so that their edges may be brought closer to reduce the initial space between said edges, thereby preventing the removal of the inserted material by means of a locking or anchoring action, and without said flanges or their said edges binding, ressing upon or indenting the maferial, sugstantia ly as herein illustrated, described and as pointed out in the claim hereto appended.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows my improved trim strip 1n position upon a fixed support and without the fabric or material secured therein.

Figure 2 is a transverse, vertical sectional view of the trim strip and its sup ort, the section being taken in the plane o the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a similar view, the section being taken in the plane of the line 3-3 of Fi ure 1.

`igures 4, 5, 6 and 7 are views similar to Figure 2 but with the fabric inserted.

Figure 8 is a similar sectional view showin two fabrics inserted in the strip.

igure 9 is a front view of a rtion of the strip showing how it is attac ed to its su port by spot welding.

igure 10 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view of a modified form of the strip, the section beilg 10-10 of igure 11.

Figure 11 is a front view of the modificatnxli shown in Figure 10 but on a smaller sc e.

Figure 12 is a sectional view similar to that shown in Figure 10, but on the scale of Figure 11, showing the fabric inserted in the stick.

Figure 13 is an inside elevation of a door of an automobile to which my invention has been applied.

Figure 14 is a transverse sectional view of the door, looking down the section bei taken in the horizontal p ne indicated by the line 14-14 of Figure 13.

Figure 15 is a transverse, sectional view, enlarged of a portion of the door, the section being talxen in a horizontal plane indicated at 15-15 in Figure 13.

Figure 16 is a transverse, sectional view of a portion of the door, the section being taken in the vertical plane indicated by the line 16-16 of Figure 13.

Figure 17 is a view in rspective, of the trim strip, and the over ying member, as shown in Figure 16.

Figure 18 is a detail view of the trim strip used with cushion body springs.

Figures 19 and 20 are views of portions of Ethe strip when enud curved work.

i re 21 isan r view inperspective,gdxf the strip whengiised with base supports for cushions.

Before I proceed to describe in detail the taken in the plane of the line particular forms in which I have selected to illustrate the invention, I desire to point out the readily apparent fact that the general shape, contour and size of the strip and its parts may be varied consider-ably to adapt same to economical manufacturing needs or shop practice, or to suit the special needs of the particular installation or application. I wish it understood, therefore, that my invention is not to be limited to the particular details of construction shown, excepting as hereinafter set forth in the appended claims.

Referring now particularly to that form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 9 inclusive, the letter A represents a' metal trim strip, B an suitable fixed support or base to which t e strip is secured, and C any suitable material, such as leather, for example, which is to be held by the strip A. This strip is composed of a single piece of metal, shaped or bent longitudinally; that is, between its side margins, so as to form a structure somewhat resembling in cross section, a vertical elongated letter C, and having four walls, namely: a back wall 1, top and bottom curved end walls 2 and 3, and a front wall, the latter comprising two inwardly directed but spaced apart flange members 4 and 5.

As clearly shown in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, these flanges 4 and 5 do-not lie in the same plane, initially; the surface plane of the ange 4 being shown as angularly or obliquely positioned with respect to the plane of the back wall 1, while flange 5 is approximately parallel with the back wall 1. The flange 5, however, may be positioned obliquely and the flange 4 parallel with the back wall, or both flanges may be angularly disposed, since the object of this arran ement is merely to provide the two membere front Wall initially with an open space of a predetermined width. The margin or edge 6 of the flange 4 and the margin 7 of the member are spaced apart initially to leave a longitudinally extending opening or space of sufficient width to permit of the insertion, between said marginal'edges 6 and 7, of the leather unholstery fabric or other material which it is desired to hold by the trim sti-ip A. The width of this space is predetermined by the thickness of that pait of the material which is to be inserted between tlie edges.

The strip A may be secured in various ways to its fixed support B. When used upon'metal, as for example, in an automobile having a metal body, a convenient method of securing the strip will be b spot welding as indicated at 8, Figure 9. nother method of securing the strip `A to a fixed support B is illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, and comprises a screw, 9l `placed through .the krear wall 1 and enteringthe support B. I; `find it convenient to recess one of the flange members of the front wall, Aas for example the member 4, by cutting away portions to form a notch or recess indicated at 10, Figure 9. This cut away portion 10 not only facilitates the fastening of the strip by a screw, but also permits the spot weldin tool to be more conveniently applied to t e inner face of the rear wall 1.

The material ,C to be secured in the trim stick A will usually be provided at its margins with a thickened portion or welt 11, which latter may be conveniently made by folding the marginal portion of the material around a core or cord or other suitable material. This welted edge 11 of the fabric C will be inserted in the interior of the strip A through the longitudinal slot or opening between the marginal edges 6 and 7 of the front wall flanges 4 and 5, as shown in Figure 4; the size of this opening, that is, the distance between the edges 6 and 7, as

before'pointed out, being determined by the size of the thickened or welted portion l1 of the material C. After the welt 11 is in place with the material C projecting between the margins 6 and 7, one or both of the flange members (as the case may be), 1n this instance the member 4, will be bent or pressed in the proper direction to reduce t-he distance or width of the open space between their margins 6 and 7 and thereby bring the flange members 4 and 5 into substantially the same plane.

This may be done very conveniently by hand, but preferably by means of a suitable tool, such as indicated at 12. By inserting the end of the tool 12 between the fabric near the welted end 1l and the edge 6 of the outwardly bent flange member 4, as shown in Figure 5, and then by raising the handle end of tool 12, as indicated in Figure 6, the flange 4 will be readily bent or pushed inwardly until it is in the position shown in Figure 7. It will be observed that in this osition the width of the space is less than t e diameter of the welt l1 and substantially equal to the thickness of the fabric. It will also be 0bserved that in thi-.eE position the welt 11 is entirely within the strip A, lies back of and contacts with the rear surface of both flange members 4 and 5, and is, therefore, firmly anchored in position Within the trim stick A so that it may not be disengaged therefrom by any strain or outward pull on the fabric C. Thus the fabric is secured by the ti'iin stick without any bindingor physical contact of parts upon the fabric and particularly without the marginal edges 6 and 7 pressing into, indenting ,or injuring the fabric. This in practical use is a very desirable object, insuring a longer period of use of the fabric withouta'enewal and affording a very neat and pleasing finish to the job.

y In Figure 8, I illustrate, two .welted margins 11, 11, within a single trim stielr A.

which is advantageous when the trim strip is used in installations wherein the fabric runs in two directions.

An advantage of my trim strip is that it may be used on curved, as well as plaiii surfaces. For example, in placing the strip around a corner, it is only necessary to cut or slit the flange members 4 and 5 from their respective edges 6 and 7, toward the curved ends 2 and 3, respectively. This cutting or slitting is indicated in Figure 19 by straight lines 13. lVlien the cut strip A is bent towards the back wall l, the front wall flanges will spread at the cut portions 13 and form V-sliaped openings or recesses as indicated in Figure 20 at 14. Just the reverse of this, of course, is true, when it is desired to bend the stri within a curve, that is, toward the front wal. Instead of being slit, as at 13, the front members 4 and 5 are recessed or cut away as indicated at 14. When the strip with its recessed portions 14 is bent in a direction toward the front wall, the edges of the V-shaped cut away portions 14 come together and the rounded flange members present the appearance of being merely slit, as at 13.

Where it is desired to use a trim strip upon two surfaces which stand at substantially right angles to each other, I find it convenient to slightly change the form of the strip A. Such change is indicated in Figures 10, 11 and 12, where the cross sectional form of the strip is substantiall triangular.

In this form the back wall is in icated at 15,

15, the curved ends at 16, and the front wall by the two flange members 17 and 18, either one of which may be bent outwardly. The flange 17 will, preferably, be notched as at 10.

My novel trim strip may be used advantageously in automobile s ring seat constructions, in place of the clips, S-clips and other devices now on the market, and one such use is illustrated in Figures 18 and 21. In such adaptation the form shown in Figure 1 is preferably used and may be provided with supporting brackets or lugs 19 stamped out of the rear wall 1. A border wire 20 of the body spring supporting grill or base 21, partially shown in Figure 21, will be positioned upon and supported by the lugs 19. In some instances the lower coil 22 of a body spring 23 may be supported upon the lugs 19. The lug 19 ma of course be omitted and the grill base bor er wires 20 or the springs 23 ma be secured to the back wall 1 of the trim stic by spot weldin The covering of tlie automobile seat structure being accomplished in any conventional manner, tlie curtain or depending fabric C, being provided with the conventional welted mar in, will be inserted in the strip A and the ange members of the front wall thereof closed in the manner'hereinabove explained.

It will be noted that, in the various forms illustrated, the bending of the front wall flange members into substantially the same plane, does not pinch, crimp, or bind the fabric C, because the space between the marginal edges of these flange members is substantially equal to the thickness proper of the fabric or other material used. Thus any tendency for the fabric C to pull through the flanges is resisted by the anchor lock of its thickened or welted portion 11 with the inside surfaces of the flanges 4 and 5 rather than by the physical contact of the edges 6 and 7 upon the body of the fabric C.

To illustrate another desirable use of my invention I have shown, in Figure 13 to 17, inclusive, how this may be accomplished.

Inside of a car door and beneath the window ledge the fabric C is provided with trim strips A substantially of the form shown in Figure 1, the fabric being provided with the welt 11 and secured Within the strip, as previouslly explained. At one side the strip is straig but for the bottom and front edges of the door, the strip is provided with a curved portion 24, as clearly shown in Figure 13. It is customary in upliolstering of automobiles, to fasten the fabric to the frame of the door or to the car wall and to give a neat appearance or finish by placing over the edge of the fabric, a removable finishing strip appropriately enameled and colored to correspond with the color or character of the upholstery. Finishing strips are also placed around the door and window openings. Such a finishing strip is illustrated at E in the up er portion of Figure 17. It may be of any esired cross sectional configuration. It is provided with openings 25 through which may be inserted ornamental screws or other suitable means by which the finishing strip E may be secured to the frame.

Usually the finishing strip E will be placed over my trim strip A, as shown in Figure 16, but in some instances my trim stick will of itself be sufficient to 've a. neat finish .to the job, as indicated in igure 15. The size of my strip A will be such as to permit it to be completely covered by the trim strip E, and the screw or securing means for the finishing strip E will also pass through suitable openings 26 which I provide in the wall 1` of strip A as shown in Figures 15, 16 and 17.

In applyin the trim strip A to doors and other parts o an automobile, or to any fixed suplport, where a finishing strip E is used, it wil not be necessary to use a tool or even hands to press the inclined flange member of the front wall of the strip A into the position shown in Figures 7, 15 and 16, for the reason that the fastening means employed to seat the finishing member E will force the wall of the finishing strip E upon the wall 1 of the stri A and will bend the flange member of strip A to its proper position to close the opening between the flange edges.

It will be obvious that my trim strip A while particularly adapted for automobile constructions, is susceptible also of many other uses. One such use, among others, is for securing tapestry to `the Wall of a room where a paneling effect is desired. In such instance it would not be necessary to use a finishing strip E, as the trim strip A would be properly enameled and colored to correspond with the color scheme employed for the room.

I claim as my invention:

A trim stick comprising a strip of sheet metal bent between its longitudinal margins to form a relatively wide rear Wall, two spaced apart flange members constituting a front wall, and narrow, curved sections connecting the flanges to the rear wall, apertures in the rear wall, said flange members being initially disposed indifferent planes and adapted to be bent into substantially one plane parallel to the rear Wall, to reduce the space between the flange members, and one of the flanges being cut away at intervals to afford access through the front wall to said apertures in the rear wall.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention I affix my signature this 6th 'day of August, 1926.

JAMES L. MACINERNEY. 

